Unbeaten no more

Field hockey’s unbeaten streak ends at IUP, rebounds against Mansfield

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The No. 1-ranked Shippensburg University field hockey team suffered its first defeat of the 2012 season on Wednesday night with a 3-1 upset loss at No. 4 Indiana (Pa.), but overcame it on Saturday afternoon with a 6-3 win against Mansfield University.

That loss snaps the Raiders’ four-year, 29-game winning streak against PSAC West opponents dating back to Oct. 11, 2008, that, ironically enough, began after a 3-1 loss to IUP on Oct. 8.

The Raiders got on the board first when senior Sam Langone scored unassisted on a rebound off IUP goalkeeper Sarah Lemieux 16 minutes into the contest.

The Crimson Hawks responded four minutes later, however, when Brielle Mackey redirected a pass from reigning PSAC West Player of the Week Nicole Bruce to tie the game at 1.

The turning point came late in the first half when Lemieux stopped a penalty stroke from junior Bre White at the 31st minute that kept the score tied. Less than two minutes later, IUP scored the eventual game-winner when Anouk Sickman redirected a pass from Bruce.

Four minutes into the second half, IUP extended its lead to 3-1 when Alicia Straining scored unassisted from the top of the circle.

White and Langone led the Raiders with two shots each, while senior goalkeeper Ciarra Delost made
six saves in the cage.

Meanwhile on Saturday, Lauren Taylor completed a first-half hat trick as the Raiders held off Mansfield, 6-3.

Taylor scored at the seventh minute with an unassisted shot from the left side nearly 20 yards out. She added her second goal 18 minutes in when she sent in a cross from the right side from junior Katie Shoop, and her third 10 minutes later on an unassisted breakaway from 10 yards out. It was the first hat trick of Taylor’s career and only her second multi-goal performance.

Less than a minute into the second half, the Raiders extended their lead to 4-0 when sophomore Ari Saytar scored in front of the cage off a penalty corner assist from senior Emily Kohlbus.

The Mountaineers did not quit, however, as MU’s Lacey Croasdale and Kristy Tutorow each scored in a less-than two-and-a-half minute span after Saytar’s goal to pull Mansfield to within 4-2.

Saytar scored again nearly five minutes into the half — on a penalty stroke — to quickly cease the Mountaineer momentum and put SU back up 5-2. Mansfield scored again at the 49th minute, but White effectively ended the rally with five minutes left in regulation with her 10th goal of the season for a three-goal SU margin.

The Raiders return home today with a 3 p.m. contest against Mercyhurst University at David See Field.